It is good that CL has deleted the adult services section.
It may not be the cause of prostitution, but it certainly facilitates it.
Now we just have to focus on shutting cell phones down for all (as they are also used to facilitate prostitution), getting rid of cars (to stop the curb crawlers), and shutting down hotel rooms and bars.

But the problem will go away when we manage to implement global castration. This is the true solution that we must all strive for. Then we will not have any more problems with prostitution…

11:54 am September 7, 2010

Kaywood Hopkins wrote:

I find it funny that law enforcement & the state attorneys can't take responsibility for their states. Why can't they fight prostitution without censoring craigslist. When are they going to admit that they are clueless on how to enforce these christian laws.

11:55 am September 7, 2010

kristy wrote:

they should aslo closed the theraputic as well since craigslist closed the adult services those sick pigs are going to flood the theraputic services for massages yea massags my arse that is a cover for sex and prosatution rings to form online and everyone is going to be hurt in the mean time......

12:06 pm September 7, 2010

Denster wrote:

Has anyone ventured over to backpage.com? It is filled with explicit adult service categories and endless pages of ads promoting prostitution, even more risqué. This "classified" site has been around nearly as long as Craigslist, yet draws no fire from the media or law enforcement. The bottom line is, the censoring of one website will only cause this issue to proliferate to other well known websites with the same or more visibility.

12:10 pm September 7, 2010

ejhickey wrote:

Closing the adult services section of CL may cause more prostitutes to sell their wares on the streets and sidewalks. What will these 17 prosecutors do then? Sue the makers of cement and concrete and the paving contractors?

By the way , why are there so many Democratic AGs leading the charge against CL and seeking to shut them down? I thought Democrats were in favor of Free Speech and the First Amendment. Are votes and publicity more important than principles? for the record, i am talking about Lisa Madigan - Illinois , Martha Coakley - Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthall - former AG in Mass. and current Senate candidate. Have these Democrats been taking lessons from bible thumping republicans?

12:39 pm September 7, 2010

G T wrote:

SO, 17 ATTORNEY GENERALS/ PROSECUTORS ARE COMPLAINING. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 34+? PROSTITUTE-PROSECUTOR . Hmmmmm very similar

12:41 pm September 7, 2010

dlthompson wrote:

The move will just drive service providers to other sites like eros and backpage, and back to the casual encounters section of Craigslist, where endless flagging battles ensue. Prostitution cannot be stopped and those looking for it will find it. At least Craigslist gave the girls an avenue to sell their services without having to walk the streets.

1:02 pm September 7, 2010

jbenny wrote:

Those ads all have the disclaimer "Any money exchanged is for companionship only. Anything else that happens is between two consentual adults". So is it really prostitution from a legal perspective? I'm not sure. If a customer shows up, puts money on the table, and they do their thing without speaking about 'money for sex', then I don't see how anyone can be prosecuted.

1:03 pm September 7, 2010

Matry McFly wrote:

Do I like a ban of free speech? No.
Do i like tobacco ads? No. Should we allow those again? Big tobacco would be back big time with all their money to advertise under free speech. Thanks, but no thanks. Is prostitution different? Two consenting adults. Tobacco, one consenting adult. Hmmm, so if we ban tobacco from advertising, we should definitely ban prostitution from advertising. How is that to be reconciled with free speech? Not sure, let the eggheads figure it out.

These 17 attorney generals can't stop prostitution and human trafficking, so their efforts is to blame someone else, but themselves without a solution for what they are incapable of irradicating. It is like blaming the automobile industry for cars (CL site) because cars kill thousands, other than improving safety of a car (site), or going to the root of the problem. It is about time we deal with the real issue here, and not prosecute a site for entertainment purposes.

2:12 pm September 7, 2010

DCGal wrote:

This is not a free speech issue. Craigslist chose to bow to pressure and take the section down. The government didn't ban it. And just because something is on the internet, doesn't mean it's a speech issue. Second, prostitution is illegal, period. Additionally, this is not even about prostitution. Before the issue of sex trafficking of children on Craigslist came to light, no one cared that CL had prostitution ads. But if it's being heavily used by men to buy and sell children, this is a major problem morally and legally. Does it end the use of the internet to sell children? No. But companies need to take responsibility for their role in what happens on their websites or in their places of business.

2:50 pm September 7, 2010

Debbie Tampa Florida wrote:

I disagree. Just because they stop allowing people to post on craigslist does not mean that they are stopping it from happening. Have they even looked around at all the other places to post? For example "backpage" that site is nasty and disgusting! Craigslist at least didn't allow such nudity, and nasty conduct to go on. On Backpage women can show all body parts and write whatever sex talk they want too. So even though they think they've stopped the adult escorts on craigslist they didn't stop it for good, in fact they just made it harder for the police and other investigators to track down illegal human trafficking, and prostitution. They think there making things for the better, but in reality they just made things a lot harder..

2:52 pm September 7, 2010

concerned wrote:

craigslist has tried to be part of the solution to this social problem and as usual, no good deed goes unpunished
unfortunately CL has powerful enemies in the media who have lost add revenue and who are economic competitors so they are a likely scapegoat
i like the blindfold metaphor - and the hypocrites, political and career climbers like to pile on, not look for a solution to the root problems

3:10 pm September 7, 2010

Tim Ingram wrote:

What I don't get is how is it any of the government's business what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedroom?

3:15 pm September 7, 2010

Lardoe wrote:

prostitution has no place on public advertisement. It is a all age! They can stay in shadows of darkness and get help for themselves and the johns have a problem too. I say keep them off creigs list!

3:18 pm September 7, 2010

Linda Newark, NJ wrote:

First, prostitution should be legal, regulated, and taxed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with websites such as CL (or any other medium) advertising and even promoting prostitution. The sex trade is a vital part of our economy, and it is time to recognize it as such.
Keeping prostitution illegal is one patriarchal attempt for men to subjugate women. Women have the right to choose with respect to their own bodies. There is no valid reason to bar women from choosing to profit directly without entanglement.
Moreover, sex trafficking and violence toward women are perpetuated by keeping prostitution illegal. If women could legitimately get certified by the state and work in a proper business setting, there would be no problem.
Prostitution is legal and regulated in Nevada and throughout Europe. The providers make a good living. They receive regular checkups, and they stimulate the local economy. Providers are not abused. They simply work in the career of their choice.
It is time to recognize that prostitution is a vital and respectable service. It is truly the oldest profession. Providers should be given respect, and the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience.

3:47 pm September 7, 2010

lol AttorneyGenerals wrote:

Legalize it, tax it, regulate it. Make it the most profitable business in the government's coffers. THEN go after the pimps that dont get a license, etc. Craigslist is a sad way for politicians to seemingly fight the "bad prostitutes". Like most people say, it'll just migrate to other sections and once everyone figures out what sections produce the most hits then it'll be business as usual. Are they going to close down Google next? Just type "escorts" then your city and viola! Plenty to choose from.

4:06 pm September 7, 2010

James Markson wrote:

This is ridicoulous. Prostitution should not exist but to only target craiglist is unfair and unconstitutional. There are plenty of websites that do the same. What about the websites that show nudiyt and sex that causes alot of young and old people to be sexual predators and abominations. It cause alot of young people to be abominations inl life yet they are allowed to see such crap on the internet. A woman displaying her naked body on t.v, internet, magazines is a forum of prostitution and should be censored only to adults.

4:37 pm September 7, 2010

Nutmegger wrote:

The largest media company in the state of Connecticut is the Tribune company. They publish the Hartford Courant - the oldest continuously published newspaper in the country. They also have a Fox Affiliate and a chain of weekly so called "alternative newspapers". The weeklies run TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF prostitution ads, with pictures on occasion. Craigslist never came close to pimping to that kind of revenue out of the state's sex purveyors. Attorney General Blumenthal and Senate candidate now has been silent on this for years, as he likes the positive attention he gets from the Hartford Courant and from the weeklies. He is a total hypocrite.

4:48 pm September 7, 2010

Ashley Madison wrote:

I won't help pervs with just go somewhere else. Craigslist is only one site offering adult services, SexuallySocial offers it too.

8:20 pm September 7, 2010

Anonymous wrote:

I think that banning adult services on craigslist was the best thing. Not only does it prevent prostitution, but it prevents couples from divorces and breakups.

10:16 pm September 7, 2010

Anny wrote:

I'm sorry but the comment below me is utterly asinine. Adult services are not the reason for divorces and breakups, bad relationships are the reason for divorces and breakups. Adult services are merely yet another avenue people use to deal with the frustration they feel in their relationships. And I don't believe it prevents prostitution, it just becomes even more underground and secretive and harder to track.

10:17 pm September 7, 2010

Anny wrote:

Correction: The comment above me.

11:06 pm September 7, 2010

Rubbish wrote:

"I think that banning adult services on craigslist was the best thing. Not only does it prevent prostitution, but it prevents couples from divorces and breakups."

Oh please! Prositution will go back underground making it even harder to detect trafficking and as for breaking up marriages, get familiar with some of those shoddy sites like adult friend finder and married but dating sites...that EXPLICITLY position themselves as sites for married people looking for affairs. Then come back and say something sensible. Good lord.

11:14 pm September 7, 2010

Rubbish wrote:

lol Anny...I knew you meant the one by anonymous. It sits above you at one point (after posting I think) but below you beore posting,. Confusing! x

11:25 pm September 7, 2010

Lilgerry wrote:

By all means let's try to censor the Internet. While we're at it we can prevent the wind from blowing and the grass from growing and bananas from turning soft and brown. The basic design of the internet is to route around damage... and censorship, when seen as a mathematical and logical point of view.... is simply damage to the flow of information. Other sites and methods will be found and used. They'll just go offshore, along with the jobs of maintaining the information systems.

Wasn't one of your AG brethren (Spitzer) a regular over there?

Oh... and Mr. Blumenthal... on the idea of removing the ads worldwide: Let's set this precedent quickly, so that we extend the US law and morality to all of the Earth. I'm sure everyone in the world will welcome this. And the New York Times classified ads can be censored by the Chinese, too. It's only fair. And it's all about fair now, isn't it?

It's truly insulting how stupid these politicians think we are.

5:31 am September 8, 2010

Pimp Daddy wrote:

Right on!

You show those little entrepreneurs that they needs their Pimps to look out for them.

10:42 am September 8, 2010

http://theproviderpage.com/cms/ wrote:

While we oppose society's Moral Witch Hunt against us and laws that criminalize us, we are aware that escort providers must live in the real world. At it's best, that world disrespects and ostracizes us; at it's worst, it seeks to exploit and even harm us.

TheProviderPage.com is a site planned and paid for by a provider to offer a safe harbor from that world for my peers.

Whether your method of running your business includes being a "lot lizard", a "streetwalker", an escort working for a respectable agency, an escort working independently, an exclusive mistress who takes on only one client, or a dominatrix who specifically does not offer "escort" services, you are welcome here and will be treated with the respect often missing in the real world.

We believe adult providers can make the best choices for themselves without interference from law enforcement on the one hand nor do-gooders who want to "help" us against our will on the other hand.

If you need resources and support to run your business, you will find that here. If you choose to leave this business, we seek to provide you information on the best resources that can assist you transition to another lifestyle. We respect each provider's right to choose for herself.

We vehemently oppose all forms of human trafficking and child prostitution. The victims of these crimes deserve our compassion and support; those who exploit others in such a manner deserve severe punishment.

While much of this site is addressed to women, male providers are welcome also; our only criteria for membership is that you are a provider. All are welcome to read and use our site, but membership is for providers only.

Welcome from Bella

This site was commissioned by Bella for her fellow escorts.

Bella has been in the adult industry for over 25 years. She has owned and operated escort agencies and also worked as a independent escort; therefore she has consulted with the finest attorneys available over the past 25 years. Bella keeps up to date on laws and what is going on in the media (see our news feeds) .

Bella's hope is that others can learn from her experience. I hope that other escorts can empower themselves, understand the risks involved and have the tools to make their experiences safer, and for them to be able to find support and fellowship from other escorts. And I hope the escort wanting out of this lifestyle will find some resources here that will help her in her transition back to the main stream of society.

The only requirement for membership is that you are a legit escort with a good reputation that I can verify. We have just started our journey here on TheProviderPage and have many more great ideas coming soon, and we also value your opinion as a escort so please forward your suggestions/comments and we will take them into consideration.

11:12 am September 8, 2010

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/141723.html wrote:

The World Heath Orgainization submitted a report in 2005 to the United Nations, to address how to stop violence against women. They said all women and children need to be given shelter,basic services to include access to water, even in times of War and Displacment.
Seems to me rather than continuing THE MORAL WITCH HUNT AGINST CONSENTING ADULTS IN PRIVATE, that these do gooders who want to save us from oursleves would be concerned about these 500 women and children being raped by Armed rebels in DR Congo , or maybe since all countries of the United Nations agree to implement these services by 2015, and so far all the USA has done is thrown some hookers in jail, Stalked Middle Aged Women on line and then abused them during their arrests, hey call our employers and landlords as this is the Biggest Hate crime in America. Hating the sex worker just because she exists, is the same as racial hate, hating someone because of their sexuality or relgion and LE encourages society to make these women social outcasts of their own communites. Do you think we will be safe if we become homeless and have to live on the street or would we just become a target for more rape and violence.
All women deserve the same sanction and protection under the law, whether she gives it away or charges for her time, its nobodys business who I have sex with in private.
If we aregong to regulate sex workers, then we would need to regulate everyone having sex. Heath Dept studies already show sex workers have 80% les std's then the genral public, we do not want prosttuion legalized so the pimps willl continue to exploit our teenagers,we only want to be decriminalized and be allowed to work as indepdents without harassment from Law Enforcement , we do not want to be forced towork in brothels and be regulated, and we want to be able to report violence and abuse agaist us. In Sweden they no loger prosecute the sex worker, instead they made it illegal to buy sex so only the John and Pimps could be prosecuted and human trafficking went down.
In Rhode Island they created a loophole for indoor prostituion back in 1979 and it worked well til Nov 2009, wen LE lied and said they could not investagte Human Trafficking without this new law. We all know that is a lie as all they have to do is knock on any door and say they need the women to step out side and say she is ok and does not need assiatnce or they are coming in to investigate, this is what they do in dosmetic violence cases. Also keep in mind the Craiglist Killer was caught because after he murdered the girl in Boston, he then came to RI robbed a women and she called LE to reort it and he was caught. She did this because she knew she had protection under the law in RI.
This is all about morals and not about protecting women.
Keep in mind this could easily be your child, mother, sister, aunt or cousin or best friend. Now does it make sense that LE lies to the public and rarely do they lock any of these pimps up for 25 years for human trafficking but LE has all the time in the world to stalk middle aged adults online, who are clearly not being exploited nor are they minors.
I for one use to pay the newspapers 12,000 a year to run an adult ad and I paid the yellow pages over 15,000 for a escort ad. Craiglist only charged 10 bucks and this gave the sex worker the ability, to get upscale clients who where willing to pay a lot more.
If we went after predators and pimps with the same ZEST as we go after the middle aged sex worker our children might be a lot safer.
Contact your local rep and demand they not spend your tax dollars on the moral witch hunt, we all know by making the industry go further underground that weare making it easier for the pimps. It is not ok for women to continue to be abused by LE and Society because they don't approve, what are we going to do next lock up the sluts in the bars that are just giving it away, or the NSA hookups or the swings clubs.

11:47 am September 8, 2010

IrishQue wrote:

Banning these ads on CL is stupid. And, talking about how it fuels child trafficking and such is a smoke screen aimed to hide the ineffectiveness of law enforcement in catching those types of criminals. I've seen the ads on CL and while they are thinly veiled ads for prostitution ($100 "flowers" for 30 min!), I've never seen any ads that hint that anything other than a consenting adult was posting it.

CL at least had rules and standards on which ads they would allow; the other sites don't and they have gotten no attention from the AG's (many of them operate off-shore anyway), so they've just made the problem worse by scattering the posters to other sites, further underground and out of the immediate light.

If people want a hooker, they'll find a hooker by whatever means they can. Using CL allowed them to control the transaction by selecting a place they were comfortable with (instead of in someone else's car); they can also get a sense of the person by the nature of the phone call and not reveal their location if they're not comfortable with the conversation.

The AG's ought to treat prostitution like tobacco: highly regulated, highly taxed and permitted by consenting adults. That would address a lot of the darker elements of the profession.

1 There is the chief of police handing out crack to street level hookers and then expoliting themf or free favors in lue of going jail.

2 we have the 2 cops while arresting a middle aged women from a onine sting, took pictures of her with their personal cell phones while she was naked and crying and beging for her close

3 again a middle aged women who was stalked by her online ad by LE, they bulied her into just admiting it and we won't take to to jail, right from your htoel room, we will give you a summons to appear. Then she had to answer all their questions about what she does with her past clients while they laughed at her, they also called her empolyer and landlord whle her charges were still pending, just to tell them she was a hooker ad harass her furture.

Why do we allow ANY WOMEN to be treated this way by officals. They deserve the same sanction and protection under the law as all other citiznens.

By giving sex workers direct access to the market Craig's List sex listings creates an open sex market and cuts out the pimps. With his persecution of Craig's List Poser Blumenthal who hates the free market and pretends to hate prostitution has a double hit. But as with all that Poser Blumenthal does, it is a lie. He can not eliminate sex but it does deprive prostitutes from direct access to costumers and forces them into the arms of pimps.
As to so called trafficking, that is force prostitution by men, women or children, if it exists let the law enforcement heavies find it and prosecute it. Most likely it is a red herring.

12:43 pm September 8, 2010

Phony AGs wrote:

By giving sex workers direct access to the market Craig's List sex listings creates an open sex market and cuts out the pimps. With his persecution of Craig's List Poser Blumenthal who hates the free market and pretends to hate prostitution has a double hit. But as with all that Poser Blumenthal does, it is a lie. He can not eliminate sex but it does deprive prostitutes from direct access to costumers and forces them into the arms of pimps.
As to so called trafficking, that is force prostitution by men, women or children, if it exists let the law enforcement heavies find it and prosecute it.

8:41 pm September 8, 2010

Umm wrote:

There are other sites offering similar capabilities ( http://www.backpage.com/72723776 ). From Craig's point of view, this is a freedom of speech issue, from CNN's point of view this is a human rights issue. From MY point of view, removing the adult services section of Craigslist will do about as much to "the worlds oldest profession" as, pardon the analogy, getting rid of abortion clinics does to abortions. This is a scapegoat tactic during mid terms.

8:51 pm September 9, 2010

Ripley wrote:

They need to work on balancing the budget and get the financial house of this country in order and quit worrying about some ad on Craigslist. Half of the Men in Congress are probably jacking to this stuff anyhow.

9:56 pm September 9, 2010

Tony wrote:

Prostitution WILL NEVER DIE. Take down the CL sections, they'll simply go to bp.com, johnslist.com, eros, cityvibe, or on the streets and on your front door step.

7:58 am September 10, 2010

Ashley wrote:

This has got to be the most absurd article I have read in a while. People are starving, people don't have healthcare, soldiers are dying everyday. And these congressmen are worried about Craigslist. Let's worry about the right stuff here people

5:36 pm September 11, 2010

http://theproviderpage.com/cms wrote:

The World Heath Organization submitted a report in 2005 to the United Nations, to address how to stop violence against women. They said all women and children need to be given shelter,basic services to include access to water, even in times of War and Displacement.
Seems to me rather than continuing THE MORAL WITCH HUNT AGAINST CONSENTING ADULTS IN PRIVATE, that these do gooders who want to save us from ourselves would be concerned about these 500 women and children being raped by Armed rebels in DR Congo , or maybe since all countries of the United Nations agree to implement these services by 2015, and so far all the USA has done is thrown some hookers in jail, Stalked Middle Aged Women on line and then abused them during their arrests, hey call our employers and landlords as this is the Biggest Hate crime in America. Hating the sex worker just because she exists, is the same as racial hate, hating someone because of their sexuality or religion and LE encourages society to make these women social outcasts of their own communities. Do you think we will be safe if we become homeless and have to live on the street or would we just become a target for more rape and violence.
All women deserve the same sanction and protection under the law, whether she gives it away or charges for her time, its nobodys business who I have sex with in private.
If we are going to regulate sex workers, then we would need to regulate everyone having sex. Heath Dept studies already show sex workers have 80% less std's then the general public, we do not want prostitution legalized so the pimps will continue to exploit our teenagers,we only want to be decriminalized and be allowed to work as independents without harassment from Law Enforcement , we do not want to be forced to work in brothels and be regulated, and we want to be able to report violence and abuse against us. In Sweden they no longer prosecute the sex worker, instead they made it illegal to buy sex so only the John and Pimps could be prosecuted and human trafficking went down.
In Rhode Island they created a loophole for indoor prostitution back in 1979 and it worked well til Nov 2009, wen LE lied and said they could not investigate Human Trafficking without this new law. We all know that is a lie as all they have to do is knock on any door and say they need the women to step out side and say she is ok and does not need assistance or they are coming in to investigate, this is what they do in domestic violence cases. Also keep in mind the Craiglist Killer was caught because after he murdered the girl in Boston, he then came to RI robbed a women and she called LE to report it and he was caught. She did this because she knew she had protection under the law in RI.
This is all about morals and not about protecting women.
Keep in mind this could easily be your child, mother, sister, aunt or cousin or best friend. Now does it make sense that LE lies to the public and rarely do they lock any of these pimps up for 25 years for human trafficking but LE has all the time in the world to stalk middle aged adults online, who are clearly not being exploited nor are they minors.
I for one use to pay the newspapers 12,000 a year to run an adult ad and I paid the yellow pages over 15,000 for a escort ad. Craiglist only charged 10 bucks and this gave the sex worker the ability, to get upscale clients who where willing to pay a lot more.
If we went after predators and pimps with the same ZEST as we go after the middle aged sex worker our children might be a lot safer.
Contact your local rep and demand they not spend your tax dollars on the moral witch hunt, we all know by making the industry go further underground that were making it easier for the pimps. It is not OK for women to continue to be abused by LE and Society because they don't approve, what are we going to do next lock up the sluts in the bars that are just giving it away, or the NSA hookups or the swings clubs

8:22 am September 13, 2010

Rob wrote:

No I think blocking the adult section is pathetic. The attorney generals need to worry about other more important issues.

8:43 pm September 14, 2010

Mikesq wrote:

There is nothing wrong with prostitution for people who are not under age. As long as the employers of agencies or escort services tell the employees that they 'might' engage in sex on their so-called first date and give them mandatory safe sex education along with condoms then I don't see a thing wrong with it. I live in Canada so it's not like we have a lynch mob of parents voting to have prostitution illegal which really complicates things in the end.

7:02 pm September 15, 2010

Lola wrote:

Asking for the removal of adult services is the least creative, most illogical "idea" that has come from some pretty highly paid people. If this request is coming from such high authority, then why not apply a better solution such as one that actually addresses exploited minors. Not only does it not address the problem of "finding bad guys", it tramples on the rights of sex workers working voluntarily.
This article is also WRONG when it says that craigslist has profited from the money generated from the posting of these adult ads. Craigslist is a NON PROFIT. It takes the money they have made from those adult ads and donates it to organizations that DO SOMETHING for the community.
If it really is all about helping exploited women and children, then why not start at home? Why not take some of that 60,000 dollar ad campaign that started the fall of adult services and use it for the actual children. Im frustrated with the many ways that money could have been spent in the community, instead it was spent on advertising utilizing flawed logic.
Remember, when dealing with our most vulnerable groups in society (women, children etc) lets not allow ourselves to be swayed by appeals to emotion. This topic, and the ones underlying it deserve an actual look and actual understanding, not just some page skimming and emotional pulling. Actual rights are at stake and your effort in understanding the issue before demonizing and assuming anything is key to getting closer to any solution.

1:37 pm September 29, 2010

john wrote:

1 simple word NO!

9:37 pm December 3, 2010

jko wrote:

Too bad so sad for all.

Boo hoo.

Add a Comment

Error message

Name

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.